Press Release

IIE Honors Fasli Jalal, Vice Minister of National Education to the Republic of Indonesia, with Inaugural Henry Kaufman Prize

New Award Recognizes Excellence in Promoting and Developing International Higher Education

WASHINGTON, DC, May 4, 2011—The Institute of International Education (IIE) has selected Fasli Jalal, Vice Minister of National Education to the Republic of Indonesia, as the first recipient of the Henry Kaufman Prize for his outstanding contributions to the field of international education in Indonesia and throughout the world. Dr. Jalal will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, DC on May 4, 2011 hosted by IIE President and CEO Dr. Allan E. Goodman and the Institute’s Board of Trustees.

The Kaufman Prize recognizes Dr. Jalal’s commitment to strengthening the educational relationship between the U.S. and Indonesia. To encourage the expansion of bilateral programs in higher education, he established joint science and technology research priorities and helped build capacity at higher institutions in Indonesia to promote U.S. studies. In addition, Dr. Jalal is a co-founder and co-chair for the Joint U.S.-Indonesia Council for Higher Education Partnership, which was formed last year by five U.S. non-governmental organizations and higher education leaders in Indonesia. The founding U.S. organizations are the Institute of International Education, APLU, the U.S.-Indonesia Society (USINDO), the East-West Center, and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

Dr. Jalal has dedicated his career to improving the higher education system within Indonesia as well. In particular, as a champion of education he has recognized the importance of teacher training in preparing students for a globalized workforce. As a result of his advocacy, the "Training of Trainers" program supported the training of 100 lecturers from close to twenty prestigious Indonesian universities. The program has graduated more than 1,800 lecturers across Indonesia since its inception, with 1,300 graduates in 2009 alone. Since 2008, he advocated for scholarships for lecturers to study for Master and PhD programs abroad funded by the Indonesian government. Every year around 1,000 new international scholarships are provided. He has also promoted the sandwich program, in which PhD students from Indonesia can study for one term abroad, and academic recharging for senior staff who already hold doctoral degrees to spend one term overseas.

“It is our privilege to honor Dr. Jalal for his dedication to improving lives by transforming the higher education system of Indonesia,” said Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, a member of the Board of Trustees of IIE and chairman of the Henry Kaufman Prize Jury. “Higher education ties between the U.S. and Indonesia are crucial to the strategic relationship between our two countries, and this award recognizes the great commitment he has demonstrated to this partnership, and to education in Indonesia and around the world.”

As Vice Minister of National Education, Dr. Jalal has also supported a $1 million scholarship program for Papuans to study at the graduate level in the U.S. in order to enhance the quality of educators in Papua. He has helped to facilitate several other international education initiatives for Indonesians as well, including a program for Chinese teachers to teach Chinese language at Indonesian universities, and a program for Indonesian students to study abroad in the Netherlands. Dr. Jalal was appointed Vice Minister of National Education to the Republic of Indonesia in January 2010. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Director General for Non-Formal Education and Youth, the Director General for Quality Improvement of Teacher and Education Personnel, and the Director General for Higher Education.

Dr. Jalal began his governmental career in 1991 as the Head of the Bureau of Health and Nutrition, and Bureau of Religion, Education, Culture and Sports, National Planning and Development Board (Bappenas), Republic of Indonesia. He completed his PhD in Nutrition from Cornell University in the U.S. in 1991, and has been a Professor in Clinical Nutrition at Andalas University in West Sumatra since 2009. He was awarded the National Best Student Accomplishment in 1977, and was recognized as the best graduate of Andalas University when he finished his medical training in 1981. In his early career as a consultant with the World Bank, he received the World Bank’s Work of Excellence award, and he received recognition from Canada World Youth as one of their “Most Outstanding Alumni”. In his profession as nutritionist, he received the Asia Pacific Consortium of Public Health’s Award and served as the President of the Indonesian Medical Nutritionist Association for two consecutive terms.

The Institute created the Henry Kaufman Prize to mark the 90th anniversary of the organization’s founding in 2009, and to honor Dr. Henry Kaufman, its Chairman Emeritus, for more than 35 years of exceptional service as a Trustee of the Institute. The prize will be awarded annually to a national leader or public official for his or her work in promoting international higher education in his or her country, region or the world.

Institute of International Education

The Institute of International Education is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of over 1,100 member institutions and 18 offices worldwide. In Indonesia, its programs are implemented by the Indonesian International Education Foundation (IIEF). IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations. IIE also conducts policy research and program evaluations, and provides advising and counseling on international education and opportunities abroad.

Henry Kaufman Prize

The Henry Kaufman Prize is an annual award given by the Institute of International Education (IIE) to recognize individuals for excellence in promoting and developing international education at the tertiary level. Named for Dr. Henry Kaufman who has served as an IIE Trustee for more than 35 years and demonstrated remarkable commitment to international educational exchange, the prize will acknowledge one honoree each year for his or her efforts and achievements in advancing international education. Recipients, selected by a jury comprised of college and university presidents who serve on IIE’s Board, will be honored in private ceremonies at the Institute’s headquarters in New York City.

Dr. Henry A. Kissinger is chairman of the Henry Kaufman Prize Jury. The members of the jury are: Mark Angelson, Deputy Mayor-designate of the City of Chicago; Lee Bollinger, President, Columbia University; George Campbell, President, The Cooper Union; William Durden, President, Dickinson College; Bart Friedman, Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP; Karen Holbrook, Vice President for Research and Innovation, University of South Florida; George Rupp, President, International Rescue Committee; John Sexton, President, New York University; and Beverly Tatum, President, Spelman College.